Abstract

Introduction:Mothers and children are the half of the total population in India. All the maternal death in Asia is mainly due to high population density, poverty, low female literacy and poor health services. Main objectives of the study to evaluate the effectiveness of Prenatal Education Programme on Postnatal and Newborn care, and to associate the post-test level of knowledge, attitude and knowledge on practice on postnatal and newborn care among the mothers.

Methodology:The Quantitative pre-experimental one group (Pre and Post-test) research design was used. The sample size was 100 prenatal mothers, which were selected by using the purposive sampling technique who fulfilled the inclusion criteria at selected hospitals, Puducherry. Data was collected by using structured interview schedule method. Post test was done after 7^th day of intervention at any time during postnatal period with the same tool.

Results and discussion:The results depicts that 41(41%) mothers were at the age group of 21-25 years, 78(78%) mothers were belonged to joint family, 46(46%) mothers were graduate, 62(62%) mothers were primi mothers, 49(49%) mothers were on 2^nd day of postnatal period and 50(50%) had previous knowledge on postnatal and newborn care and the pre and post – test score of knowledge, attitude and knowledge on practice on Postnatal and Newborn Care among the mothers were 19.42±7.08, 73.09±9.25, 11.83±3.95, 34.75±4.67, 92.24±6.32 and 18.0±2.25 respectively. The calculated ‘t’ value for knowledge and attitude level on Postnatal and Newborn Care respectively -29.64 & -21.76 which was found to be statistically significant at p<0.001 level. There is positive correlation between knowledge and attitude (r=0.059), Knowledge and knowledge on practice (r=0.245) and attitude and knowledge on practice (r=0.139). The demographic & obstetrical variables of mother’s age, parity, no. of living child, no. of postnatal day, previous knowledge and sources of information about Postnatal and Newborn Care had shown highly significant association at p level <0.001 and <0.05 with post-test level of knowledge, attitude and knowledge on practice regarding Postnatal and Newborn Care

Conclusion:This showed that prenatal education programme was more effective and it can be promoted in prenatally by nurse in their day to day activities in hospital setting.

Keywords

Prenatal education programme, Postnatal and newborn care, Mothers, Birth to the baby, Women’s life, Newborn, Postnatal period, Maternal, Uterine environment, Congenital anomalies, Rhythmic respiration, Neonatal care, Birth asphyxia, Pregnancy, Postpartum complications